Tuesday 19th October

Apparently today, October 19th, is designated as 'National Evaluate Your Life Day'. I had no idea such a day existed but it seems I am ahead of the game because that's sort of what I did yesterday.

J had a negative test result so we did meet for coffee in the end and it was lovely to see her again. We ended up talking about whether we felt ready to start expanding our lives by socialising more and the conclusion we reached is that, yes we both do once we've had our Covid booster jabs in December. For me, it feels like the right time to do more things out of the house and to start mixing with a wider group of friends/family in as safe a way a possible, including having visitors in my own home. For now, this doesn't include choir or joining an amateur orchestra but does include meeting with C, the piano teacher, to learn and play duets although that's obviously dependent on her feeling ready to meet in person as well. 

I also had a rethink about my Christmas plans. I usually do an Advent calendar, often homemade, but have decided against that this year although it may be back in favour in future years. Instead I will concentrate my celebrations on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and then the Twelve days from Boxing Day until Twelfth Night. This reflects how we celebrated the season during our childhood - Dad brought the tree home on Christmas Eve and that's when all the decorations were put out and we enjoyed all the sparkle until Twelfth Night, when it was all taken down again. I don't know how family and friends are planning to celebrate this year but I will catch up with everyone even if it's not on the big day. I find Christmas Day one of the hardest days since I lost Ced, so I'm making plans to do something special that can be reasonably flexible to accommodate any invites that head my way. 

Christmas Eve will be spent at home and, as in previous years, I will cook my turkey dinner before settling down for Carols at Kings followed by my own version of Jolabokaflod. This year's book is Richard Osman's 'The Man Who Died Twice'. Christmas Day depends on the weather but if it's dry I will be off to the beach after I've opened my pressies ... I'll just be walking, not swimming!

I had a rethink about my Twelve Days of Christmas gifts after I wrote about it yesterday. I'm still doing it but am adopting Lovely Grey's idea of gift giving using the principle of want, need, wear, read. The Twelve Days are something I did for years with Ced and it 'says' Christmas to me so I sorted out a much better gift list and have now ordered most of them. I didn't have much luck finding anything in town but the internet has proved its worth again and I only have four things to find. Strangely, these are 'wants' and 'needs' which are proving to be the hardest categories to decide on - I suppose it's a reflection of how fortunate I am in having everything I need and want. I've splashed out a bit more than usual this year but I've decided that I'm worth it! 

Apologies for rattling on about Christmas but it has helped me to get my mind around what I want to do. Today there is nothing in the diary. I was hoping to meet with Joy but that's had to be postponed so I'll have a quiet day at home and try to decide on the rest of my 'wants' and 'needs' gifts and get them ordered. 

Comments

  1. My twelve days criterion was that it had to be something that I know I will use. So fluffy slipper socks, hand cream, a scented candle and That Book are all wrapped up, plus the other things, all sitting in a wicker basket at the moment although B&M had some very cheap festive bags so I might get one for the gifts. It will look nice under the tree after The Day.
    Like you, I think I'm worth it but appreciate that I am able to have that mindset.
    xx

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    1. I saw those festive bags in B&M and thought the same thing but haven't finally decided how I want to wrap them all yet. It's the being sure it's something I will definitely use that is making me hesitate about my final choices. I need to get the rest ordered asap so that I can forget what I've chosen and get a surprise when I open it 😂 xx

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  2. Of course you're worth it, you have to spoil yourself. Hubby and I have said there's nothing we need or want this year and we won't put the Christmas tree up with having the pup as that wouldn't be a good idea. So the Twelve Days of Christmas gifts is something I'm going to do, thank you for writing about it. Evaluate Your Life, I've never heard of that either. A Christmas Day walk on the beach, there's nothing better.

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    1. I'm sure Tilly would have an amazing time with a Christmas tree so I can quite understand why you're not bothering with one this year. I doubt I will have one either. I hope you have fun with the Twelve Days gifts.

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  3. You can talk Christmas any time with me! This year my Christmas Eve book is going to be Jaimie Admans new book, The Post Box At The North Pole, the ebook is now available but the paperback is released in November. You are so worth spending your money on.I put in a request to Santa yesterday for a want that turned into a need (col). As to yesterday's style class, interesting info about black. I'm still assessing how much I want to do indoors this winter, which is going to be difficult since I'm still at the stage of outdoor meet ups & max for me is 2 other people if I know they have been vaccinated. COVID booster vaccines probably won't be available to us until well into the new year.

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    1. I've just read the blurb on your chosen book - it sounds like a perfect read for the Christmas season.

      I don't plan to do anything in large groups so I'll be the same as you, i.e. only meeting with one or two people at a time and only with people who I know are being sensible in what they choose to do. I should have my booster in November/December and I won't make many changes before I have that.

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  4. Oops! I think I just lost my comment! If this is a duplicate, then, please delete!

    For not being aware that today is evaluate your life day, you did well with evaluating it, yesterday! Waiting until after the booster to socialize sounds sensible to me.

    I don't have many Christmas plans, this year. It will be special because my daughter will still be home and we will decorate, of course. I don't plan to attend any big family gatherings, however. We will drop off gifts, probably before Christmas Day, and that will be that. :)

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    1. This is your only comment so I don't know hat happened there!

      I'm pleased with yesterday's attempts to evaluate my current lifestyle. The changes I feel I now like to make sorted of clicked and feel right to me so the next six months or so, although mostly minor changes and tweaks should make a big difference.

      I always used to wait and fit in with everyone else's plans so it's quite a big turnaround for me to make my own plans and put myself first. I too want to avoid the big family gatherings but I doubt that many of my family will opt for that anyway. Gifts are easy this time because all of the children want money so I will do bank transfers!

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